13 Films To Watch in 2013

I am still embarrassed by the fact that I only saw a total of 14 films in theaters last year.  That is not me.  I vowed to myself that it will have to change this year.  So far, so good.  January has not ended yet but I already saw 3 films - Life of Pi (my Oscar Best Picture winner), Sisterakas (totally got its box-office success), and Les Miserables (musical plays & film musicals are two different genres, the straight adaptation did not work).

Here are 13 other films I am excited to see in 2013:

About Time

Synopsis: A young man discovers that the men in his family are able to travel through time, and sets out to use his gift to win the heart of his dream girl.

Excitement Factor: Richard Curtis' (Notting Hill, Love Actually, Four Weddings & A Funeral) comeback to the rom-com genre

 Bling Ring 

Synopsis: A group of teenagers obsessed with fashion and fame burglarize the homes of celebrities in Los Angeles. 

Excitement Factor: A youth movie by Sophia Coppola starring Emma Watson fresh from The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I'm So Excited 

Synopsis: In the face of a life-threatening situation, a disparate and defenseless group of passengers on board a flight to Mexico City are provoked to deliver colorful confessionals that become the best way to escape from the idea of death. 

Excitement Factor: Pedro Almodovar, period.

Labor Day 

Synopsis: On Labor Day weekend, a divorced, depressed single mother encounters a large man bleeding profusely while shopping with her 13-year-old son. They give him a ride and later learn that the police are looking for an escaped convict. 

Excitement Factor:  Jason Reitman (Juno, Up In The Air, Young Adult) directing Kate Winslet's comeback 

Nebraska 

Synopsis: An aging, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million dollar Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes prize. 

Excitement Factor: Alexander Payne's (The Descendants)  return to directing road-trip movies after the award-winning Sideways

The Great Gatsby 

Synopsis: Nick Carraway learns that old friend Jay Gatsby has built an empire of wealth and avarice, and has eyes only for his former flame Daisy Buchanan. 

Excitement Factor: The reunion project of Romeo + Juliet's Baz Luhrmann & Leonardo di Caprio, plus it features songs of Jay-Z and Lady Gaga

The Heat 

Synopsis: An FBI agent and a cop team up to bring down a drug lord. 

Excitement Factor: Bridesmaids' director Paul Feig's new comedy and the fresh combo of Sandra Bullock & Bridesmaids' breakout star Melissa McCarthy

The Nymphomaniac 

Synopsis: A self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recounts her erotic experiences to the man who saved her after a beating. 

Excitement Factor: A porn film by Lars Von Trier

Her 

Synopsis: In the not-so-distant future, a lonely writer purchases a newly developed operating system designed to meet the user's every need, and to his surprise, a romantic relationship begins to develop with it.  

Excitement Factor:  Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation), my favorite music video director of all time, makes meta-movies again 
 

 To The Wonder 

Synopsis: The relationship between an American man and European woman falls apart. 

Excitement Factor: Early viewers say this is the perfect companion piece to Terrence Malick's previous directorial effort The Tree of Life, my favorite film last year

The World's End 

Synopsis: A group of old friends reunite for an epic pub crawl at the dawn of the apocalypse. 

Excitement Factor:  Four words: Shaun of the Dead

The Grandmaster 

Synopsis: The story of martial-arts master Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee. 

Excitement Factor: Wong Kar-Wai. Tony Leung. Enough said.

This Is The End 

Synopsis: A gaggle of comedic celebrities survive the apocalypse and struggle to survive in the wastelands. 

Excitement Factor:  Judd Apatov (Superbad, Pineapple Express) casts all his regular & reliable comedian friends - Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jason Segel, Michael Cera & Jonah Hill among others - in one movie


Source: The Playlist

Cinemalaya 2008 goes to UP!

Sa mga nalalayuan sa CCP, pupunta ang Cinemalaya sa UP Cine Adarna. Suporta tayo!

Ang mga napanood ko na...

Ang galing ni Baron! Ang galing ni Pasion! Ang galing ng Jay! Jury had it right!
Screenings - July 29, Tuesday, 5pm & Aug 6, Wednesday, 7:30 pm

Pinaka-favorite ko this year! Pareho kami ng taste ng jury, huh! Haha! :D
Screening - August 5, Tuesday, 5pm

Very heartwarming! It's the ultimate Indie chick flick! :)
Screening - July 31, Thursday, 5pm

Funny Mailes Kanapi! I love Jonathan Neri! Martin dela Paz is promising! :)
Screening - July 31, Thursday, 7:30 pm

Kilig romantic comedy indie style! Namets kaayo lantawon! :)
Screening - July 30, Wednesday, 7:30pm

Lyrical and reflective! Very technically polished!
Screening - July 28, Monday, 7:30 pm

I'm looking forward to see Boses and Brutus. Sana wala akong trabaho sa screenings nila. :) Go Cinemalaya!

ETA: Salamat kay Newt sa camera at kay Mark sa pagkuha ng letrato. HAHAHAHAHA!

Astig!

Ang astig ng konsepto! Shet fan talaga ako! From Yahoo, "See what happened when Weezer asked hundreds of fans to join in on a jam."


Their latest single Pork and Beans



Their cover of Radioheads "Creep"



My all-time favorite Island In The Sun



Para sa 'yo to Michiko! El Scorcho! :)

Sayang di nila tinugtog 'yung isa ko pang favorite, 'yung Pink Triangle.

ETA: Speaking of astig, kanina ko lang napanood ang Confessional ni Jerrold Tarog. Bilat sa kakay! Pagka-tsadaa kaayong salidaa uy! Lantawa gyud ninyo, bai! :)

Another Lucky Review

Film review of D' Lucky Ones from The Philippine Star.

The Best Medicine
By Philip Cu-Unjieng
The Philippine Star 04/21/2006

As director Wenn Deramas announced, in a deadpan manner, this was a special preview of his new film D’ Lucky Ones, before it is sent to the Berlin Film Festival. The audience erupted in laughter and quite subtly, the spell was cast, the mood and tone of the night established. D’ Lucky Ones may not find favor in even the most minor of international film festivals, but with the scorching summer temperatures rising, with E-VAT clutching at every facet of our lives, and with our winsome Lipa City mayor still enjoying tenure, D’ Lucky Ones may be just what the doctor ordered.

As Star Cinema’s summer release, the film may very well enjoy the success D’ Anothers had a year ago. Broad comedy, a respectful humor-laden nod to our cinematic and show business heritage/history, a smattering of young stars, and the surprise leading ladies tandem of Pokwang and Eugene Domingo – all form the elements of a movie that aspires for nothing more than to give the audience a fun-laden, side-splitting two hours of mirth.

While Sandara Park and real-life boyfriend Joseph Bitangcol provide the star-crossed love interest, the film is ably stolen by comediennes Pokwang and Eugene Domingo. Pokwang is Sandara’s mother, while Eugene is Joseph’s mother. Essaying characters who are Vilma Santos die-hards, Pokwang and Eugene raise their respective families, and, thanks to their Vilma-devotion, name their children Lucky Girl and Lucky Boy.

Out-of-context mouthing of lines from Vilma’s classic films are a central part of the ensuing humor. Whenever a dramatic moment crops up, the "air in the balloon" is let out via the hilarious use of these lines. It’s great to see Pokwang and Eugene enjoying the freedom to "run away" with the film. These accomplished thespians fill the screen with sympathetic portrayals and laugh-out-loud moments.

Given the ‘70s feel of the film’s color and texture which is reminiscent of Vilma-Edgar Mortiz movies, one could almost imagine how D’ Lucky Ones could have been done back then with Sylvia La Torre taking on Eugene’s role and Moody Diaz playing Pokwang’s character.

Candy Pangilinan, Carla Humphries, Nikki Valdez, JR Valentin, Janus del Prado and Franzen Fajardo provide able support.

In the final analysis, it’s the very real portrayal of what Filipino fan mentality is all about that makes the screenplay sparkle. Sure, this isn’t a socially-relevant, message-laden project. But what it may lack in depth, it more than makes up with guaranteed broad-market enjoyment. Anyone who’s ever held a candle for a movie star, or considered themselves "tunay na fan," will be in stitches over the antics and situations these two "extreme" Vilmanians find themselves in as they reach mid-life.

Vilma, Nora, Aga, Sharon – it doesn’t matter. The "fan" mindset is a peculiar one in the Philippine context, and it’s great to see a film that pokes fun at it, while declaring how much respect it has for the said attitude. After all, this fanbase is in large part what has driven the success of the local film industry, and this fact is not overlooked.

For a movie with all-out fun and laughter stamped all over it, D’ Lucky Ones makes no pretensions of trying to be anything more. So, despite Wenn’s pronouncements, Berlin will have to wait!

Lucky Review

Film review of D' Lucky Ones from Inquirer.

REVIEW
Happiest movie of the summer
April 19, 2006
By Paul Daza
PDI


AFTER a string of repetitive, formulaic “kilig” movies, how wonderful and refreshing it is to see the inventive new Star Cinema comedy, “D’ Lucky Ones.” A wacky story about two Vilmanians—Lea (Pokwang) and Tina (Eugene Domingo)—who use their obsession with the Star for All Seasons to cope with personal problems, “D’ Lucky Ones” is one rare Tagalog movie that delivers exactly what it promises, and more. It’s not merely the happiest movie of the summer, it’s the happiest movie of many seasons.

Much of the movie’s publicity is centered on real-life lovers Sandara Park and Joseph Bitangcol. Based on audience reaction, however, the movie belongs to the two comedians playing their drama queen mothers. Watching Pokwang and Eugene have a grand gay time with their hilarious but straight-faced interpretations of drama icon Vilma Santos is truly one of the year’s most unexpected pleasures.

In the wake of the scene-stealing antics of Eugene Domingo and Pokwang, the supporting cast barely
has an opportunity to make an impression. Candy Pangilinan’s best line, in which she says that impersonator Jon Santos looks like Vilma but sounds like Ralph Recto, gets only a polite laugh in the theater because it’s been played to death in the TV trailers. As a hunk named “Ralph” whom Lea and Tina are lusting after, JR Valentin doesn’t rise above the story’s limited demands on his character. He was far more effective as the crush of Maximo in “Ang Pagdadalaga Ni Maximo Oliveros.”

Press releases aside, Sandara Park and Joseph Bitangcol have a long way to go before they can become the next Maricel Soriano-William Martinez tandem. Though Sandara Park appears more comfortable and relaxed here, compared to prior screen outings, her partner Joseph Bitangcol looks like he’s constantly acting, always aware of a camera recording his performance, killing any opportunities for spontaneity.

Good thing, though, that the jokes come quickly and abundantly, making it easy to gloss over other rough spots. More often than not, the manic, breathless pacing doesn’t even give viewers enough time to giggle before the next joke is already being set up. If few get the allusions to “Pahiram Ng Isang Umaga” or “Sister Stella L,” there are spoofs of more recent Ate Vi blockbusters like “Anak” and “Bata Bata Paano Ka Ginawa?” for younger viewers.

Under the assured direction of Wenn Deramas, who spoofed Star Cinema’s blockbusters in “Ang Tanging Ina” and who now mines Vilma Santos’ classic flicks for more comedy gold, the gags in “D’ Lucky Ones” are more visual than verbal, relying more on performance than on scripted dialogue. Just seeing Domingo and Pokwang try to dress and look like their idol is enough to plant a smile on your face for minutes at a time. Still, there are some witty verbal gems, like Domingo’s admission to Pokwang that it’s not true she kept a slumbook while in high school … because she never went to high school!

Praise is also in order for the sunny cinematography of Sherman So and Nancy Arcega’s rainbow-colored production design for actualizing the movie’s upbeat tone. Their work makes the world of “D Lucky Ones” look like it was shot from the point of view of a cheerful, optimistic child.

Credit should be given to writers Rose Colindres and Ted Boborol, who had the smarts to use the main characters’ love for Vilma Santos’ movies not just as a gimmick, but as an integral part of the story. Pokwang’s revelation to Sandara about how Vilma’s movies helped her survive a terrible life in Korea was an unexpectedly moving insight on entertainment’s remarkable power to bring joy to the joyless. Now isn’t that exactly what we need?

Inspired!

After watching my friends’ films - Michiko Yamamoto’s Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros and Emman de la Cruz’ Sarong Banggi - last Thursday at the UP Film Center (sorry, I still have to adjust calling it Cine Adarna), my passion to write and direct my own film came back again. I had this urge when I was in college and forgot about it when I got sucked into the mainstream system. Watching my friends’ films though, I couldn’t help but envy them. I mean they can finally say that they did it. They made a movie that they want to do - without the intervention of a creative committee and without directors and producers reminding them about Aling Bebang. So what if Sarong Banggi was like it or hate it (I belong to the former few), at least Emman got to share his vision with everyone. Michiko’s film, I only had a few apprehensions (mostly editing and acting direction of some scenes), but overall the film is a classic. What I love about it is that it’s indie in nature but it did not alienate the mainstream audience. The screenplay was also very good. I was telling Michiko had I written the material, it would have been just a simple gay story but Michiko wrote more than just that. (And that’s for you to see coz I didn’t intend to write a film critique here. :D) The director’s documentary background also gave the film an authentic look of a typical lower-class metro neighborhood.

I just find it funny that some artsy fartsy snobs are now labeling Michiko and Emman as “staunch indie filmmakers” not knowing that Michiko used to write for teenybopper SCQ Reload and teleserye Pangako sa ‘Yo and currently writes for the soap Anghel na Walang Langit, and Emman used to be a part of the same mainstream studio creative committee these artsy farts love to pinpoint as the cause of Philippine Cinema’s death. Hehe. :) La lang! Who says that mainstream peeps can’t do indies? Or maybe it’s more of; a good film is a good film whether it’s indie or not.

*****

I’m now going to the gym, yahoo! Hehe.:) I enrolled in Fitness First ABS-CBN yesterday. The pay was quite hefty but I just want to think of it as a challenge (or an inspiration, haha :D) to have a good and healthy bod. I have this wrong notion that when I finally have a good bod, I will gain more confidence and with more confidence, I can finally get a lovelife. Hoy, kidding! :D

2046

Finally, I was able to watch a movie in the cinema after hibernating (not self-imposed, of course) for more than a month. Together with Waterfowl, who’s having the time of her life celebrating her freedom from two years of soap opera life (It Might Be You will end this Friday), we watched Wong Kar Wai’s 2046. The film stars my movie idol Tony Leung who reprises his Cannes award-winning role as Mr Chow in In The Mood For Love. 2046 follows what happens to his character after he ended his illicit affair with Maggie Cheung’s character in the earlier film. I’m not a film review writer (I prefer discussing a movie with my friends) but let me just say that the film was definitely worth the wait. It is simply sublime! If you love Wong Kar Wai (he’s “like him” or “hate him”), you’ll love the movie because the film screams Wong Kar Wai! :) From the use of Spanish music/60’s classic song/opera music to convey the story to the visual symbolism in cinematography, everything just falls into its proper Wong Kar Wai place. Zhang ZiYi was good, so were Gong Li and Faye Wong. Of course, Wong Kar Wai baby Tony Leung was the star of the movie. He looks older now, far from the baby-face policeman role he played in Chungking Express, but like wine, he seems to be getting better as he ages. Cliché I know, but true!:) Heh!

Watch the movie na lang. :)

Slow Burn

I'm getting tired with my work and it's disappointing me. I was supposed to finish a 3-day script last Monday but I ended up finishing the whole draft just yesterday morning. Deadline for next week's 5-day script is Saturday so I should have spent the entire day making the one-liner, right? Wrong! I just bummed around doing nothing but watched TV. I ended up canceling a one-liner meeting with my contributing writers because I couldn't present them any. I just told myself I would do the one-liner by nighttime after the airing of SCQ Reload. Which I did. I went to the cyber café outside campus after, to start working. (I find it more convenient saving my files in my Yahoo Mail account.) Alas, luck wasn't also on my side as the PLDT lines were not connecting. My mind wasn't that giddy to work anyway so I decided to go to SM North instead, and caught the last full screening of Fahrenheit 9/11.

Fahrenheit 9/11 is obviously politically motivated and subjectively anti-Bush but these don't erase the fact that it's a well-thought of, well-made and well-written documentary. Michael Moore is a documentary god. He was able to send his message straight into my heart and me being perennially depressed, I easily shed a tear or two. The movie was more personal than I thought. And universal too! You could see parallelisms with the way Bush leads to some of our former and present Philippine political leaders. I also find it eerie that the once fictional "what if" premise of Wag the Dog is presented in Fahrenheit 9/11 as reality. I definitely recommend you guys, to go and see the movie.

And so, here I am again, back in the cyber cafe after the movie, still not able to start writing the one-liner and just blogging my butt off. Good lord help me. I'm losing the zest. I'm not just feeling "it."

Sunday, Lonely Sunday

I finally told our headwriter about my decision not to stay long with the soap. I think he understands. Well, at least I hope so. I already gave them an ultimatum. I'll stay with the soap until he comes back from his US vacation. He'll be gone August to September, which means, I will only resign by then. Ang bait ko noh?! :) But of course, nothing's temporary really. For all we know, the show is not going to rate very high and the management will decide to cut the soap short. Am I very bad if I hope for this to happen?

***

I attended a binyag this morning. I'm already a ninong! :) Her name is Mirjana Kamilah and she's the daughter of Darling, the older sister of my childhood friend Honey. Yep, those are really their nicks! :) It was cool. I don't know but I really find traditions such as this cheezy in a good way. I found myself smiling all throughout the ceremonies. And then I realized I'm not getting any younger. And my smile vanished.

***

Went home and slept after the binyag. I got depressed.

***

Caught the final screening of Dawn Of the Dead in SM North after. In terms of quality and aesthetics, the other recent zombie movie 28 Days Later is far better because its premise is more realistic and resonant with the times, its direction more innovative and its characters more intelligent (although I hate that "man becoming zombies" symbolism in the latter part of the film). This is not to say that I didn't enjoy Dawn of the Dead. If you feel like watching a zombie movie that's sheer scream out loud fun, then go see this one. I also like the subtle "fuck commercialism" message.

***

The taxi I rode on the the way to SM North played some Guns And Roses album. Got teary-eyed dammit! I'm ashamed to admit it but early 90's long hair band music actually hits my sensitive nerve. It just reminds me of my early days of freedom (circa 1992) when I left home to study HS in another island. I was 12 then. And at 24 now, I'm feeling very old.

Lonely Day

Today was rather a slow day. I woke up noontime already and since I was too tired to take a bath so I could go out and eat lunch (I don't cook), I just wasted precious money (ever) by ordering in a fast-food delivery service. After my late lunch, I viewed the shows recorded on my VCR. I was finally able to see last Tuesday's American Idol 3 eppy and while I knew the results in advance, I still felt sad to see Leah La Belle go. I like her. I think the main problem with this season’s Top 12 is that the contestants with really unique voices (Leah, Camille, Jon Peter and John Stevens) are very "amateur" performers. They need to work on their nerves and stage performances. Of course there are excellent performers and singers (like La Toya, Diana, and Jasmine) but I don't see anything special in the sound of their voices. What I mean is the music market is saturated already with artists who sound like them. (Amy and Matt are just great personalities, no more, no less.) That's why my GUT is telling me now that the next American Idol might be George Huff or Fantasia Barino (both giving good performances and having unique sounding voices).

After my viewing marathon, I dozed off to sleep and woke up surprised upon realizing it was 6pm. (Surprised more when I saw that it's raining!) I then went to the nearby mall to catch the last screening of The Passion of The Christ. I know much has been said about the movie but let me just say my piece. I agree with what everyone's saying. :) It's a very powerful film. It's impossible to critique it objectively because the film itself is very subjective. Watching the film actually reminded me of childhood coz I knew the story of Jesus’ last few hours on earth by heart then. And it just amazes me that I still remember it now (me being jaded and cynical in adulthood). While watching, I kept thinking in advance what will happen next and I got them right. I need not be preachy here and tell you the movie’s message. I’m sure we all get it. I like to think so coz I did.

Anyway, my blog’s taking a break until Easter. I say enough of my narcissisms for the meantime. And I also say may we all have a meaningful Holy Week. :)

Of Milan and B Movies

I was at the jam-packed premiere of Milan last night in Megamall. I think I'd recommend the movie to you guys. I'd say it's one of the better Filipino movies around and definitely, the best movie of Direk Olive Lamasan. If you're a fan of her works, you will not be disappointed.

What I like about the film foremost is its excellent production values. The cinematography is really good. The movie reaffirms Shayne Clemente's status as one of the best DOPs in the P.I. Considering that they just did guerilla shoot in Milan, I have no apprehension in giving thumbs up to Shayne's work. Of course, this comes with the able direction of Direk Olive. Her shots are symbolic yet not stagey and flashy (unlike some in your face "hey, I'm a visual" director/s.) Direk Olive is also successful in giving out the best in the two leads Claudine and Piolo. While I'm not exactly a fan of the two when it comes to acting (they should take some voice modulation class or something), I think they were consistently good and gave out effective performances. Direk Olive is an actor's director so this comes as no surprise. What's pleasantly surprising though are the support cast who are just so excellent in their craft particularly Ryan Eigenmann (subtle and realistic acting), Iza Calzado (she can act! and she registers well on screen!) and the guy who played Ilonah Jean's lover.

The story is a bit similar to the Hongkong movie Comrades (which I also recommend that you watch). Lino (Piolo) goes to Milan in search of his lost wife and meets Jenny (Claudine), a toughened Filipina OFW who helps him through the process. Since this is a love story, it is inevitable that they eventually fall in love. The love story is just the backdrop though of the film's real core, which are the lives and loves of Milan's Filipino workers. Inserted in the movie are video interviews of real people telling their life anecdotes. Direk Olive also did ala-Dogville when Piolo as Lino becomes one of the interviewees in the end.

Of course, the movie's not that perfect. Some scenes come out melodramatic. Some lines might be consciously written to be trailer-worthy. It's too mainstream glossy. The disconnection of Lino and Jenny appeared "hilaw" to me. Since the story's premise of Filipinos living abroad was already tackled in Direk Olive's previous work, the URIAN winner Sana Maulit Muli, I think she was trying to avoid doing the same thing which is understandable. It's just that storytelling-wise, the Aga-Lea starrer for me is still better.

You know I'm not fond of love songs, or love stories, so I leave you to judge the film on the love angle. :)


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Something to laugh about.... The following films are the films Rated B by the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB)....

Magnifico... Milan... Filipinas... Mano Po 2... MY FIRST ROMANCE... :D


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By the way, I was wrong about that liposuction thingy. ;)

Uber Biatch!

I just got back from watching The Magdalene Sisters in G4. I watched it rather alone because my artsy-fartsy friends have seen it already and all I can say is WOW, what a beautiful and powerful film! Okay, okay, it's a bit (no, not a bit) biased against the Catholic religion but the acting, the direction, cinematography, screenplay - everything is just sublime, you kinda forgive the fact that it may be a propaganda movie. I was actually moved by the film and thanked heavens afterwards that I wasn't born in "pre-historic" era. Yes, the movie's intentions may be questionable but we can't also argue that the story's so real. I must know. I was a former altar boy and I'd seen some devouts being so narrow-minded and unjustly strict with regard some acts of superstition disguised as tradition. Before I get stoned here, I want to clarify that I'm still a practicing Catholic and this is no generalization.

See the movie for yourself to know what I mean. Good movies are rare nowadays.

Best Friends With Benefits

Our shoot got packed up today so I decided to text my jog partner Rose C. to catch a screening of Kung Ako na Lang Sana, the Sharon-Aga movie. Being former employees of Star Cinema (she still writes for them, for the soap Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay), we easily got passes.

Okay... actually... the reason why we easily got passes was because we were part of the team that brainstormed the movie's concept (you'll see our names in the closing billboard). :) I'll let you in a secret, though. Truth is, had I not been reminded by Guia (a Creative Assistant of the company), I would not have remembered brainstorming for the Sharon-Aga movie. It's embarrassing, I know! :) It's just that the brainstorm happened decades ago (December 2002, if i'm not being OA) and we, like, brainstormed a lot (a lot!) for the two stars that time. The fact that it's the generic (ok, kinda) "best friends in love" concept which was approved didn't help heal my amnesia at all.

But I guess it's a cool thing. To be invited by Star Cinema to brainstorm for them, and me saying something like "...maybe, to help the audience adjust to the uncomfy Sharon-Aga team-up, we'll just cast them as best friends unknowingly in love with each other and, you know, just have them profess their love in the ending already ala the first season of Dawson's Creek..." would result in getting a portion of the concept fee months later and having my name on the movie's closing credits is really really COOL! I like it! :) The phrase "life's unexpected surprises" comes into play.

The movie's a good one, by the way. Direk Joey wrote a very rich and realistic screenplay. The actors also acted well. I mean, for my cynic friend Rose C. to cry in a movie, it must be really good.

As for me, here's to hoping Guia will invite me again to another brainstorm session.